Quick fit adjustment mechanism for extension pole system for paint roller

ABSTRACT

A quick fit adjustment mechanism may include a housing having one end that attaches to a pole and another end with threads that engage threads formed in one paint accessory. A lever may be used to cause actuator pins to extend from the housing to secure another paint accessory to the pole.

I. BACKGROUND

A. Field of the Invention

This invention is in the field of methods and apparatuses for connectingpaint related accessories to poles and more specifically to methods andapparatuses for a quick fit adjustment mechanism that easily connects apole to various types of paint related accessories.

B. Description of Related Art

It is well known in the paint industry to provide poles, which typicallyare used as a handle by a user, that are designed to connect to anddisconnect from specific paint accessories. It is known, for example, toprovide a pole that has a threaded distal end that engages threadsformed within an opening on a paint roller handle/pole. It is also know,as another example, to provide a pole with an opening, having slots,that receives a paint roller pole/handle having extensions that matchthe shape and size of the slots.

While many known connect/disconnect mechanisms used in the paintindustry work well for their intended purposes, they have adisadvantage. The disadvantage is that a given pole/handle will onlyconnect to a limited number of paint accessories. If a user has a poleand a paint accessory that does not “match” the pole, the user has nooption but to purchase a new pole to match the paint accessory or a newpaint accessory to match the pole. This adds undesirable cost andundesirable time to painting projects.

What is needed is a quick fit adjustment mechanism that is designed toenable a pole to engage with many different types, sizes, and styles ofpaint accessories.

II. SUMMARY

According to one embodiment of this invention a quick fit adjustmentmechanism may comprise: a housing comprising: (1) a first end that isattachable to an associated pole; and, (2) a second end having (a) anouter surface with threads that are engageable with threads on a firstassociated accessory to secure the first associated accessory to theassociated pole; and, (b) first and second holes; first and secondactuator pins that are positioned within the first and second holes,respectively; and, a lever that: (1) is supported to the housing; (2) ismoveable with respect to the housing; (3) comprises an operator button;and, (4) has first and second contact surfaces that contact the firstand second actuator pins, respectively. The quick fit adjustmentmechanism may be adjustable by moving the operator button to move thelever with respect to the housing between: (1) a first position wherethe first and second actuator pins are in a retracted position withrespect to the first and second holes in the housing; and, the secondend of the housing is insertable within an opening in a secondassociated accessory; and, (2) a second position where the first andsecond actuator pins extend out of the first and second holes and arecontactable to an inner surface of the opening in the second associatedaccessory to secure the second associated accessory to the pole.

According to another embodiment of this invention, a quick fitadjustment mechanism may be used with: (1) an associated pole having adistal end; (2) a first associated paint accessory having an openingwith threads formed on its inner surface; and, (3) a second associatedpaint accessory having an opening with an inner surface. The quick fitadjustment mechanism may comprise: a housing comprising: (1) a first endthat is attachable to the distal end of the associated pole; and, (2) asecond end having (a) an outer surface with threads that are engageablewith the threads on the opening in the first associated paint accessoryto secure the first associated paint accessory to the pole; and, (b)first and second holes; first and second actuator pins that arepositioned within the first and second holes, respectively; and, a leverthat:

(1) is supported to the housing; (2) is moveable with respect to thehousing; (3) comprises an operator button; and, (4) has first and secondcontact surfaces that contact the first and second actuator pins,respectively. The quick fit adjustment mechanism may be adjustable bymoving the operator button to move the lever with respect to the housingbetween: (1) a first position where the first and second actuator pinsare in a retracted position with respect to the first and second holesin the housing; and, the second end of the housing is insertable withinthe opening in the second associated paint accessory; and, (2) a secondposition where the first and second actuator pins extend out of thefirst and second holes and contact the inner surface of the opening inthe second associated paint accessory to secure the second associatedpaint accessory to the pole.

According to yet another embodiment of this invention, a method maycomprise the steps of: (A) providing a pole having a distal end; (B)providing a quick fit adjustment mechanism comprising: a housingcomprising: (1) a first end; and, (2) a second end having (a) an outersurface with threads; and, (h) first and second holes; first and secondactuator pins that are positioned within the first and second holes,respectively; and, a lever that: (1) is supported to the housing; (2) ismoveable with respect to the housing; (3) comprises an operator button;and, (4) has first and second contact surfaces that contact the firstand second actuator pins, respectively; (C) providing the quick fitadjustment mechanism to be adjustable by moving the operator button tomove the lever with respect to the housing between: (1) a first positionwhere the first and second actuator pins are in a retracted positionwith respect to the first and second holes in the housing; and, (2) asecond position where the first and second actuator pins extend out ofthe first and second holes; and, (D) attaching the first end of thehousing to the distal end of the pole,

Benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understandingof the following detailed specification.

III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement ofparts, embodiments of which will be described in detail in thisspecification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a paint roller assembly that mayuse a quick fit adjustment mechanism according to some embodiments ofthis invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective close-up view of a quick fit adjustmentmechanism in a first position where actuator pins are extended.

FIG. 3 is a perspective close-up view similar to that shown in FIG. 2but with the actuator pins retracted.

FIG. 4 is an assembly drawing of a quick fit adjustment mechanism.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a housing

FIG. 6 is an end view of the first end of the housing.

FIG. 7 is a first side view of the housing,

FIG. 8 is a second side view of the housing.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a lever.

FIG. 10 is a first side view of the lever.

FIG. 11 is a second side view of the lever.

FIG. 12 is an end view of the lever.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of an actuator pin.

FIG. 14 is a side view of the quick fit adjustment mechanism in aretracted position.

FIG. 15 is a side view of the quick fit adjustment mechanism in anextended position.

FIG. 16 is a side sectional view of the quick fit adjustment mechanism.

IV. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes ofillustrating embodiments of the invention only and not for purposes oflimiting the same, and wherein like reference numerals are understood torefer to like components, FIG. 1 shows an assembly 10 that may useembodiments of a quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 of this invention.The assembly 10 may include a pole 12 that is attached to an accessory14. The accessory shown is a paint accessory; and more specifically apaint roller. The pole 12 may be used as a handle and thus may include agrip surface 18. The accessory 14 may have a portion 16 to which thepole 12 is connected. In one embodiment, shown, the paint accessoryportion 16 is a pole. The quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 may be usedto quickly and easily connect the pole 12 to the accessory 14 and toquickly and easily disconnect the pole 12 from the accessory 14. Whilethe quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 is ideally suited for use withpaint accessories, including rollers and the like, it is not limited tothat application as the quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 may findapplication to connect and disconnect poles to other accessories andother poles when used with the sound judgment of a person of skill inthe art.

The pole 12 may have a distal end 20 and the accessory 14 may have anopening 32. The paint accessory portion 16 may have various designswithin the opening 32 and the quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 of thisinvention is designed to accommodate numerous such designs, making thequick fit adjustment mechanism 30 a nearly universal attachmentmechanism.

The quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 may include a housing 50, one ormore actuator pins 40, and a lever 36. The housing 50 may have a firstend 52 that is attachable to the distal end 20 of the pole 12 and asecond end 54 having an outer surface with threads 34. The housing mayhave holes 56 through which the actuator pins 40 may be extended andretracted. A chamber 58 may be formed in each end of the housing 50 andthey may communicate with each other. The chamber 58 in the second end54 may communicate with the holes 56. The chamber 58 in the first end 52may have a slot 60 that may extend through the outer surface of thehousing 50, as shown. The chamber 58 in the first end 52 may also haveat least one channel 62, two shown in FIG. 6, that are formed on a sideof the chamber 58. The first end 52 may also have an aperture 66. One ormore connection sites 64 which may be used to attach the first end 52 tothe pole 12, may be provided.

The lever 36 may he supported to the housing 50 and moveable withrespect to the housing 50 as will be discussed further below. The lever36 may have a main body 68 and a plate 70 that extends from the mainbody 68, as shown. The main body 68 may have at least one rib 72, twoshown, that is received in the channel 62 formed in the housing 50 andby which the lever 36 is slidable within and with respect to the housing50. When the lever 36 is positioned within the housing 50, the plate 70may extend into the chamber 58 for in the second end 54 of the housing50. The lever 36 may have a neck 74 that extends from the main body 68and through the slot 60 in the housing 50. An operator button 38 may beattached to the distal end of the neck 74, as shown. A grip surface 48may be positioned on the outer surface of the operator button 38 toimprove the grip between the user and the operator button 38. Theoperator button 38 shown is adjustable longitudinally, in the directionsindicated by arrow 42. In another embodiment, the button 38 may movelaterally, and in yet another embodiment the button may be adjusted byrotational movement. The lever may have an aperture 76, shown in FIG.16, used as discussed below. The aperture 76 may be cone-shaped, asshown.

The lever 36 may have at least one contact surface 78, two shown, thatcontacts a corresponding actuator pin 40. In one embodiment, the contactsurfaces 78 are on opposite sides of the plate 70. Each contact surface78 may comprise a ridge 80 that may be angled with respect to alongitudinal center line of the lever when the quick fit adjustmentmechanism is attached to the pole. The ridges 80 may be angled inopposite directions, as shown. Each actuator pin 40, see especially FIG.13, may have a groove 82 that receives the corresponding ridge 80. Eachactuator pin 40 may be L-shaped, as shown, having a first leg 84 thatmay define the distal end, the first to extend out of the hole 56, and asecond leg 86 that may have the groove 82. The groove 82 may be angled,as shown, and cooperate with the corresponding ridge 80 to cause theactuator pins 40 to move as will he discussed below.

A biasing device 88 may be used to maintain position of the lever 36with respect to the housing 50. The biasing device 88 may be a springthat extends through the aperture 66 in the first end of the housing 50and into the aperture 76 in the lever 36, as shown. In one embodiment,the pole has a cavity into which the first end 52 of the housing 50 isinserted. In this case, the biasing device 88 has a first end thatcontacts an inner surface of the pole defining the cavity and a secondend that is received within the aperture in the lever 36.

In one design, the paint accessory portion 16 may have threads formed onthe surface of the opening 32. To accommodate this design, the pins 40may be retracted, as discussed below. The threads 34 on the housing 50may then engage the threads on the accessory 14 to secure the accessory14 to the pole 12. More specifically, the pole 12 may be rotated withrespect to the accessory 14 while allowing the threads 34 on pole 12 toengage the threads formed on the surface of the opening 32. The pole 12can be easily disconnected from the accessory portion 16 by rotating thepole 12 with respect to the paint accessory portion 16 in the oppositedirection.

In another design, the paint accessory portion 16 is not able to engagethe threads 34. In this case, the quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 maybe adjusted by moving the operator button 38, see arrow 42, to move thelever 36 with respect to the housing 50 between: (1) a first position,see FIGS. 3 and 14, where the first and second actuator pins are in aretracted position with respect to the first and second holes in thehousing; and, the second end of the housing is insertable within anopening in a second associated accessory; and, (2) a second position,see FIGS. 2 and 15, where the first and second actuator pins extend outof the first and second holes and are contactable to an inner surface ofthe opening in the accessory to secure the accessory to the pole. Tothen remove the pole 12, it is only necessary to move the operatorbutton, and thus the lever, in the opposite direction. This causes theactuator pins to retract and the pole can then be easily removed.

The actuator pins 40 shown are on opposite sides of the housing, top andbottom surfaces in a specific embodiment, but other positions may workequally well, depending on the shape of the opening 32. The pins 40 mayextend from the outer surface of the pole 12 in locations where thethreads 34 are not located, as shown. In another embodiment, the pins 40may extend from the outer surface of the pole 12 in locations where thethreads 34 are located. The quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 mayinclude a sleeve 44 that covers a portion of the outer surface of thepole 12, as shown. The sleeve 44 may serve to provide a grip surface forthe user and/or may serve to cover/protect the components that engagethe operator button 38, hi one embodiment, shown, the button 38 ispositioned substantially outside of the sleeve 44.

Within the opening 32, the accessory 14 may have different non-threaddesigns. In one embodiment, there are apertures sized and positioned toreceive the extended actuator pins 40 (as shown in FIG. 2). In anotherembodiment, there are no such apertures and the actuator pins 40 createenough force to create a frictional connection with the surface thatdefines the opening 32. Other designs are possible and would work wellwith this invention. In one embodiment, undesirable wobbling/vibratingis minimized by controlling relative size tolerances. In one specificembodiment, the size tolerances are held to about plus or minus 0.002inches,

The components of the quick fit adjustment mechanism 30 can be made insizes and of materials chosen with the sound judgment of a person ofskill in the art. In one embodiment, the distal end of pole 12 is madewith a Zinc die cast body. In another embodiment, the operator button 38and actuator pins 40 are made from high impact nylon. In yet anotherembodiment, the sleeve 44 is made of a clear silicone rubber.

Numerous embodiments have been described herein. It will be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the above methods and apparatuses mayincorporate changes and modifications without departing from the generalscope of this invention. It is intended to include all suchmodifications and alterations in so far as they come within the scope ofthe appended claims or the equivalents thereof.

Having thus described the invention, it is now claimed:

We claim:
 1. A quick fit adjustment mechanism comprising: a housingcomprising: (1) a first end that is attachable to an associated pole;and, (2) a second end having (a) an outer surface with threads that areengageable with threads on a first associated accessory to secure thefirst associated accessory to the associated pole; and, (b) first andsecond holes; first and second actuator pins that are positioned withinthe first and second holes, respectively; a lever that: (1) is supportedto the housing; (2) is moveable with respect to the housing; (3)comprises an operator button; and, (4) has first and second contactsurfaces that contact the first and second actuator pins, respectively;and, wherein the quick fit adjustment mechanism is adjustable by movingthe operator button to move the lever with respect to the housingbetween: (1) a first position where the first and second actuator pinsare in a retracted position with respect to the first and second holesin the housing; and, the second end of the housing is insertable withinan opening in a second associated accessory; and, (2) a second positionwhere the first and second actuator pins extend out of the first andsecond holes and are contactable to an inner surface of the opening inthe second associated accessory to secure the second associatedaccessory to the pole.
 2. The quick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 1wherein: the lever has a longitudinal center line when the quick fitadjustment mechanism is attached to the associated pole; the firstcontact surface on the lever comprises a ridge that is angled withrespect to the longitudinal center line; the second contact surface onthe lever comprises a ridge that is angled with respect to thelongitudinal center line; the first actuator pin has a groove thatreceives the ridge formed on the first contact surface; and, the secondactuator pin has a groove that receives the ridge formed on the secondcontact surface.
 3. The quick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 2wherein: the first and second contact surfaces on the lever are onopposite sides of the lever; and, the first and second actuator pinsextend out of the first and second holes, respectively, from oppositesides of the second end of the housing.
 4. The quick fit adjustmentmechanism of claim 3 wherein: the first end of the housing comprises: achamber having a slot that extends through the outer surface of thehousing; and, a channel formed on a side of the chamber; the second endof the housing comprises a chamber that communicates with the first andsecond holes; the lever comprises: (1) a main body having a rib that isreceived in the housing channel and is slidable within the housingchannel; (2) a plate that extends from the main body into the chamber inthe second end of the housing; and, (3) a neck that extends from themain body through the slot formed on the first end of the housing; and,wherein the operator button is attached to a distal end of the neck. 5.The quick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 4 wherein: the first end ofthe housing comprises an aperture; the lever comprises an aperture; and,the quick fit adjustment mechanism further comprises a biasing devicethat extends through the aperture in the first end of the housing andinto the aperture in the lever to maintain position of the lever withrespect to the housing.
 6. The quick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 5wherein: the first end of the housing is received within a cavity formedin an end of the associated pole; the biasing device is a spring havingfirst and second ends; the first end of the spring contacts an innersurface of the associated pole defining the cavity; and, the second endof the spring is received within the aperture in the lever.
 7. A quickfit adjustment mechanism for use with: (1) an associated pole having adistal end; (2) a first associated paint accessory having an openingwith threads formed on its inner surface; and, (3) a second associatedpaint accessory having an opening with an inner surface; the quick fitadjustment mechanism comprising: a housing comprising: (1) a first endthat is attachable to the distal end of the associated pole; and, (2) asecond end having (a) an outer surface with threads that are engageablewith the threads on the opening in the first associated paint accessoryto secure the first associated paint accessory to the pole; and, (b)first and second holes; first and second actuator pins that arepositioned within the first and second holes, respectively; a leverthat; (1) is supported to the housing; (2) is moveable with respect tothe housing; (3) comprises an operator button; and, (4) has first andsecond contact surfaces that contact the first and second actuator pins,respectively; and, wherein the quick fit adjustment mechanism isadjustable by moving the operator button to move the lever with respectto the housing between: (1) a first position where the first and secondactuator pins are in a retracted position with respect to the first andsecond holes in the housing; and, the second end of the housing isinsertable within the opening in the second associated paint accessory;and, (2) a second position where the first and second actuator pinsextend out of the first and second holes and contact the inner surfaceof the opening in the second associated paint accessory to secure thesecond associated paint accessory to the pole.
 8. The quick fitadjustment mechanism of claim 7 further comprising: a sleeve that coversan outer surface of the distal end of the associated pole; and, whereinthe operator button extends outside of the sleeve.
 9. The quick fitadjustment mechanism of claim 7 wherein: the lever has a longitudinalcenter line when the quick fit adjustment mechanism is attached to thedistal end of the associated pole; the first contact surface on thelever comprises a ridge that is angled with respect to the longitudinalcenter line; the second contact surface on the lever comprises a ridgethat is angled with respect to the longitudinal center line; the firstactuator pin has a groove that receives the ridge formed on the firstcontact surface; and, the second actuator pin has a groove that receivesthe ridge formed on the second contact surface.
 10. The quick fitadjustment mechanism of claim 7 wherein: the first and second contactsurfaces on the lever are on opposite sides of the lever; and, the firstand second actuator pins extend out of the first and second holes,respectively, from opposite sides of the second end of the housing. 11.The quick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 7 wherein: the first end ofthe housing comprises: a chamber having a slot that extends through theouter surface of the housing; and, a channel formed on a side of thechamber; the second end of the housing comprises a chamber thatcommunicates with the first and second holes; the lever comprises: (1) amain body having a rib that is received in the housing channel and isslidable within the housing channel; (2) a plate that extends from themain body into the chamber in the second end of the housing; and, (3) aneck that extends from the main body through the slot formed on thefirst end of the housing; and, wherein the operator button is attachedto a distal end of the neck.
 12. The quick fit adjustment mechanism ofclaim 7 wherein: the first end of the housing comprises an aperture; thelever comprises an aperture; and, the quick fit adjustment mechanismfurther comprises a biasing device that extends through the aperture inthe first end of the housing and into the aperture in the lever tomaintain position of the lever with respect to the housing.
 13. Thequick fit adjustment mechanism of claim 12 wherein: the first end of thehousing is received within a cavity formed in the distal end of theassociated pole; the biasing device is a spring having first and secondends; the first end of the spring contacts an inner surface of theassociated pole defining the cavity; and, the second end of the springis received within the aperture in the lever.
 14. The quick fitadjustment mechanism of claim 7 wherein: the first and second holes areformed on the second end of the housing at locations where the threadsformed on the outer surface of distal end of the pole are not located.15. A method comprising the steps of: (A) providing a pole having adistal end; (B) providing a quick fit adjustment mechanism comprising: ahousing comprising: (1) a first end; and, (2) a second end having (a) anouter surface with threads; and, (b) first and second holes; first andsecond actuator pins that are positioned within the first and secondholes, respectively; and, a lever that: (1) is supported to the housing;(2) is moveable with respect to the housing; (3) comprises an operatorbutton; and, (4) has first and second contact surfaces that contact thefirst and second actuator pins, respectively; (C) providing the quickfit adjustment mechanism to be adjustable by moving the operator buttonto move the lever with respect to the housing between: (1) a firstposition where the first and second actuator pins are in a retractedposition with respect to the first and second holes in the housing; and,(2) a second position where the first and second actuator pins extendout of the first and second holes; and, (D) attaching the first end ofthe housing to the distal end of the pole.
 16. The method of claim 15further comprising the steps of: providing an accessory having accessorythreads; and, engaging the threads on the outer surface of the secondend of the housing to the accessory threads to secure the accessory tothe pole.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising the steps of:providing the accessory to he a paint accessory comprising a pole withan opening having the accessory threads.
 18. The method of claim 15further comprising the steps of: providing an accessory having anopening; adjusting the quick fit adjustment mechanism into the firstposition; inserting the second end of the housing within the opening inthe accessory; and, adjusting the quick fit adjustment mechanism intothe second position so that the first and second actuator pins contactan inner surface of the opening in the accessory to secure the accessoryto the pole.
 19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:providing the accessory to be a paint accessory.
 20. The method of claim18 further comprising the steps of: adjusting the quick fit adjustmentmechanism into the first position; and removing the second end of thehousing from the opening in the accessory.